Posted on 05/12/2009 11:55:31 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
The expected announcement Tuesday by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist that he’s running for the Senate would seem to be a rare bit of good news for beleaguered Republicans.
But while Crist is a brand-name recruit with sky-high approval ratings and bipartisan appeal, his path to keeping the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez in GOP hands has at least one significant roadblock: Sunshine State conservatives.
Despite Crist’s widespread popularity, he faces a primary in which he will have to make his case to a restless GOP base dissatisfied with his high-profile advocacy for President Barack Obama’s stimulus and his handling of the state’s budget woes.
And he will be facing a vigorous fight from former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a young, outspoken Hispanic conservative who is capturing the attention of activists in Florida and across the country.
. . . . .
“If we’re offering the same thing as the Democrats, but with different packaging, what’s the point in having a Republican Party?” Rubio said.“I’m going to offer Floridians a clear, consistent, authentic small-government choice in the primary.”
Indeed, Rubio expects the primary to receive national attention as a referendum between the party’s moderate and conservative wings. He just received a glowing profile in the Weekly Standard, which called him the “perfect recruit for statewide office.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
This guy Rubio sounds like the real deal.
Who cares if a fascist republican or fascist democrat wins?
his high-profile advocacy for President Barack Obama’s stimulus
I question I aked repeatedly during the primary last year. Never did get a goot answer from "republicans".
Marco Rubio sounds GREAT. Wait a second, Crist is a Republican..the same guy that was kissing Obama’s ass and basically crying when he won..a Republican like that I want kicked out of the party. I hope Rubio wins
Dittos ... Crist is a Glen Beck progressive.
I’m supporting Rubio.
Florida FReepers are going to have to work twice as hard for Rubio now.
“Glen Beck progressive”?
He is. As a South Florida resident I can tell you he is a solid conservative. I have followed his career in the State House and I will definitely work and vote for Rubio.
I’m hoping Jeb-— who’s still popular there-— gets behind Rubio as well.
Jeb is hated by a lot of us and could be a death Nell plus the Bush Brand too be quite honest Sucks!!
I am on Rubio’s email ping list. His web site does not list where he stands on issues. I told him if he is against amnesty and for fighting illegal immigration if not he is another Mel Martinez RINO like Crist. No word from him yet.
Where does he stand on illgeal immigration and amnesty?
Is he another Mel Martinez? I loathe Crist.
Whereas I take a lot of heat for supporting RINOs in states like Delaware and/or New York, etc., I am of the same sentiment here as you:
Florida is NOT a state where we must nominate a RINO to have any chance of winning the seat. Florida is NOT Vermont.
We can do better than Crist, period.
I will donate and campaign for Rubio and do everything I can to make sure Crist is not elected.
I recall Florida Freepers convincing me to vote for Mel Martinez.
In the primary or in the general?
It looks like Rubio is the guy to support in the primary, but if it's Crist who wins the primary, what do you do? Vote for the Democrat?
I assume Rubio isn’t married at the hip to ArNold the Global Varmin’ fighter on climate change like Charlie..
In the Primary, because supposedly we could only get a Republican elected if he could get the Hispanic vote.
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